Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights Chapter IV WHAT vain weathercocks we are! I, who haddetermined to hold myself independent of all socialintercourse, and thanked my stars that, at length, I hadlighted on a spot where it was next to impracticable - I,weak wretch, after maintaining till dusk a struggle withlow spirits and solitude, was finally compelled to strike mycolours; and under pretence of gaining informationconcerning the necessities of my establishment, I desiredMrs. Dean, when she brought in supper, to sit down whileI ate it; hoping sincerely she would prove a regular gossip,and either rouse me to animation or lull me to sleep byher talk. ’You have lived here a considerable time,’ Icommenced; ‘did you not say sixteen years?’ ’Eighteen, sir: I came when the mistress was married, towait on her; after she died, the master retained me for hishousekeeper.’ ’Indeed.’ There ensued a pause. She was not a gossip, I feared;unless about her own affairs, and those could hardlyinterest me. However, having studied for an interval, with 51 of 540

Wuthering Heightsa fist on either knee, and a cloud of meditation over herruddy countenance, she ejaculated - ‘Ah, times are greatlychanged since then!’ ’Yes,’ I remarked, ‘you’ve seen a good manyalterations, I suppose?’ ’I have: and troubles too,’ she said. ’Oh, I’ll turn the talk on my landlord’s family!’ Ithought to myself. ‘A good subject to start! And that prettygirl-widow, I should like to know her history: whethershe be a native of the country, or, as is more probable, anexotic that the surly INDIGENAE will not recognise forkin.’ With this intention I asked Mrs. Dean whyHeathcliff let Thrushcross Grange, and preferred living ina situation and residence so much inferior. ‘Is he not richenough to keep the estate in good order?’ I inquired. ’Rich, sir!’ she returned. ‘He has nobody knows whatmoney, and every year it increases. Yes, yes, he’s richenough to live in a finer house than this: but he’s verynear - close-handed; and, if he had meant to flit toThrushcross Grange, as soon as he heard of a good tenanthe could not have borne to miss the chance of getting afew hundreds more. It is strange people should be sogreedy, when they are alone in the world!’ ’He had a son, it seems?’ 52 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’Yes, he had one - he is dead.’ ’And that young lady, Mrs. Heathcliff, is his widow?’ ’Yes.’ ’Where did she come from originally?’ ’Why, sir, she is my late master’s daughter: CatherineLinton was her maiden name. I nursed her, poor thing! Idid wish Mr. Heathcliff would remove here, and then wemight have been together again.’ ’What! Catherine Linton?’ I exclaimed, astonished. Buta minute’s reflection convinced me it was not my ghostlyCatherine. Then,’ I continued, ‘my predecessor’s namewas Linton?’ ’It was.’ ’And who is that Earnshaw: Hareton Earnshaw, wholives with Mr. Heathcliff? Are they relations?’ ’No; he is the late Mrs. Linton’s nephew.’ ’The young lady’s cousin, then?’ ’Yes; and her husband was her cousin also: one on themother’s, the other on the father’s side: Heathcliff marriedMr. Linton’s sister.’ ’I see the house at Wuthering Heights has ‘Earnshaw’carved over the front door. Are they an old family?’ ’Very old, sir; and Hareton is the last of them, as ourMiss Cathy is of us - I mean, of the Lintons. Have you 53 of 540

Wuthering Heightsbeen to Wuthering Heights? I beg pardon for asking; but Ishould like to hear how she is!’ ’Mrs. Heathcliff? she looked very well, and veryhandsome; yet, I think, not very happy.’ ’Oh dear, I don’t wonder! And how did you like themaster?’ ’A rough fellow, rather, Mrs. Dean. Is not that hischaracter? ’Rough as a saw-edge, and hard as whinstone! The lessyou meddle with him the better.’ ’He must have had some ups and downs in life to makehim such a churl. Do you know anything of his history?’ ’It’s a cuckoo’s, sir - I know all about it: except wherehe was born, and who were his parents, and how he gothis money at first. And Hareton has been cast out like anunfledged dunnock! The unfortunate lad is the only one inall this parish that does not guess how he has beencheated.’ ’Well, Mrs. Dean, it will be a charitable deed to tell mesomething of my neighbours: I feel I shall not rest if I goto bed; so be good enough to sit and chat an hour.’ ’Oh, certainly, sir! I’ll just fetch a little sewing, and thenI’ll sit as long as you please. But you’ve caught cold: I saw 54 of 540

Wuthering Heightsyou shivering, and you must have some gruel to drive itout.’ The worthy woman bustled off, and I crouched nearerthe fire; my head felt hot, and the rest of me chill:moreover, I was excited, almost to a pitch of foolishness,through my nerves and brain. This caused me to feel, notuncomfortable, but rather fearful (as I am still) of seriouseffects from the incidents of to-day and yesterday. Shereturned presently, bringing a smoking basin and a basketof work; and, having placed the former on the hob, drewin her seat, evidently pleased to find me socompanionable. Before I came to live here, she commenced - waitingno farther invitation to her story - I was almost always atWuthering Heights; because my mother had nursed Mr.Hindley Earnshaw, that was Hareton’s father, and I gotused to playing with the children: I ran errands too, andhelped to make hay, and hung about the farm ready foranything that anybody would set me to. One fine summermorning - it was the beginning of harvest, I remember -Mr. Earnshaw, the old master, came down-stairs, dressedfor a journey; and, after he had told Joseph what was to bedone during the day, he turned to Hindley, and Cathy,and me - for I sat eating my porridge with them - and he 55 of 540

Wuthering Heightssaid, speaking to his son, ‘Now, my bonny man, I’m goingto Liverpool to-day, what shall I bring you? You maychoose what you like: only let it be little, for I shall walkthere and back: sixty miles each way, that is a long spell!’Hindley named a fiddle, and then he asked Miss Cathy;she was hardly six years old, but she could ride any horsein the stable, and she chose a whip. He did not forget me;for he had a kind heart, though he was rather severesometimes. He promised to bring me a pocketful of applesand pears, and then he kissed his children, said good-bye,and set off. It seemed a long while to us all - the three days of hisabsence - and often did little Cathy ask when he would behome. Mrs. Earnshaw expected him by supper-time onthe third evening, and she put the meal off hour afterhour; there were no signs of his coming, however, and atlast the children got tired of running down to the gate tolook. Then it grew dark; she would have had them to bed,but they begged sadly to be allowed to stay up; and, justabout eleven o’clock, the door-latch was raised quietly,and in stepped the master. He threw himself into a chair,laughing and groaning, and bid them all stand off, for hewas nearly killed - he would not have such another walkfor the three kingdoms. 56 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’And at the end of it to be flighted to death!’ he said,opening his great-coat, which he held bundled up in hisarms. ‘See here, wife! I was never so beaten with anythingin my life: but you must e’en take it as a gift of God;though it’s as dark almost as if it came from the devil.’ We crowded round, and over Miss Cathy’s head I hada peep at a dirty, ragged, black-haired child; big enoughboth to walk and talk: indeed, its face looked older thanCatherine’s; yet when it was set on its feet, it only staredround, and repeated over and over again some gibberishthat nobody could understand. I was frightened, and Mrs.Earnshaw was ready to fling it out of doors: she did fly up,asking how he could fashion to bring that gipsy brat intothe house, when they had their own bairns to feed andfend for? What he meant to do with it, and whether hewere mad? The master tried to explain the matter; but hewas really half dead with fatigue, and all that I could makeout, amongst her scolding, was a tale of his seeing itstarving, and houseless, and as good as dumb, in the streetsof Liverpool, where he picked it up and inquired for itsowner. Not a soul knew to whom it belonged, he said;and his money and time being both limited, he thought itbetter to take it home with him at once, than run intovain expenses there: because he was determined he would 57 of 540

Wuthering Heightsnot leave it as he found it. Well, the conclusion was, thatmy mistress grumbled herself calm; and Mr. Earnshaw toldme to wash it, and give it clean things, and let it sleep withthe children. Hindley and Cathy contented themselves with lookingand listening till peace was restored: then, both begansearching their father’s pockets for the presents he hadpromised them. The former was a boy of fourteen, butwhen he drew out what had been a fiddle, crushed tomorsels in the great-coat, he blubbered aloud; and Cathy,when she learned the master had lost her whip inattending on the stranger, showed her humour by grinningand spitting at the stupid little thing; earning for her painsa sound blow from her father, to teach her cleanermanners. They entirely refused to have it in bed withthem, or even in their room; and I had no more sense, soI put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it might hegone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted byhearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw’s door, andthere he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries weremade as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, andin recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sentout of the house. 58 of 540

Wuthering Heights This was Heathcliff’s first introduction to the family.On coming back a few days afterwards (for I did notconsider my banishment perpetual), I found they hadchristened him ‘Heathcliff’: it was the name of a son whodied in childhood, and it has served him ever since, bothfor Christian and surname. Miss Cathy and he were nowvery thick; but Hindley hated him: and to say the truth Idid the same; and we plagued and went on with himshamefully: for I wasn’t reasonable enough to feel myinjustice, and the mistress never put in a word on hisbehalf when she saw him wronged. He seemed a sullen, patient child; hardened, perhaps, toill- treatment: he would stand Hindley’s blows withoutwinking or shedding a tear, and my pinches moved himonly to draw in a breath and open his eyes, as if he hadhurt himself by accident, and nobody was to blame. Thisendurance made old Earnshaw furious, when hediscovered his son persecuting the poor fatherless child, ashe called him. He took to Heathcliff strangely, believingall he said (for that matter, he said precious little, andgenerally the truth), and petting him up far above Cathy,who was too mischievous and wayward for a favourite. So, from the very beginning, he bred bad feeling in thehouse; and at Mrs. Earnshaw’s death, which happened in 59 of 540

Wuthering Heightsless than two years after, the young master had learned toregard his father as an oppressor rather than a friend, andHeathcliff as a usurper of his parent’s affections and hisprivileges; and he grew bitter with brooding over theseinjuries. I sympathised a while; but when the children fellill of the measles, and I had to tend them, and take on methe cares of a woman at once, I changed my idea.Heathcliff was dangerously sick; and while he lay at theworst he would have me constantly by his pillow: Isuppose he felt I did a good deal for him, and he hadn’twit to guess that I was compelled to do it. However, I willsay this, he was the quietest child that ever nurse watchedover. The difference between him and the others forcedme to be less partial. Cathy and her brother harassed meterribly: he was as uncomplaining as a lamb; thoughhardness, not gentleness, made him give little trouble. He got through, and the doctor affirmed it was in agreat measure owing to me, and praised me for my care. Iwas vain of his commendations, and softened towards thebeing by whose means I earned them, and thus Hindleylost his last ally: still I couldn’t dote on Heathcliff, and Iwondered often what my master saw to admire so muchin the sullen boy; who never, to my recollection, repaidhis indulgence by any sign of gratitude. He was not 60 of 540

Wuthering Heightsinsolent to his benefactor, he was simply insensible;though knowing perfectly the hold he had on his heart,and conscious he had only to speak and all the housewould be obliged to bend to his wishes. As an instance, Iremember Mr. Earnshaw once bought a couple of colts atthe parish fair, and gave the lads each one. Heathcliff tookthe handsomest, but it soon fell lame, and when hediscovered it, he said to Hindley - ’You must exchange horses with me: I don’t like mine;and if you won’t I shall tell your father of the threethrashings you’ve given me this week, and show him myarm, which is black to the shoulder.’ Hindley put out histongue, and cuffed him over the ears. ‘You’d better do itat once,’ he persisted, escaping to the porch (they were inthe stable): ‘you will have to: and if I speak of these blows,you’ll get them again with interest.’ ‘Off, dog!’ criedHindley, threatening him with an iron weight used forweighing potatoes and hay. ‘Throw it,’ he replied,standing still, ‘and then I’ll tell how you boasted that youwould turn me out of doors as soon as he died, and seewhether he will not turn you out directly.’ Hindley threwit, hitting him on the breast, and down he fell, butstaggered up immediately, breathless and white; and, hadnot I prevented it, he would have gone just so to the 61 of 540

Wuthering Heightsmaster, and got full revenge by letting his condition pleadfor him, intimating who had caused it. ‘Take my colt,Gipsy, then!’ said young Earnshaw. ‘And I pray that hemay break your neck: take him, and he damned, youbeggarly interloper! and wheedle my father out of all hehas: only afterwards show him what you are, imp of Satan.- And take that, I hope he’ll kick out your brains!’ Heathcliff had gone to loose the beast, and shift it to hisown stall; he was passing behind it, when Hindley finishedhis speech by knocking him under its feet, and withoutstopping to examine whether his hopes were fulfilled, ranaway as fast as he could. I was surprised to witness howcoolly the child gathered himself up, and went on with hisintention; exchanging saddles and all, and then sittingdown on a bundle of hay to overcome the qualm whichthe violent blow occasioned, before he entered the house.I persuaded him easily to let me lay the blame of hisbruises on the horse: he minded little what tale was toldsince he had what he wanted. He complained so seldom,indeed, of such stirs as these, that I really thought him notvindictive: I was deceived completely, as you will hear. 62 of 540

Wuthering Heights Chapter V IN the course of time Mr. Earnshaw began to fail. Hehad been active and healthy, yet his strength left himsuddenly; and when he was confined to the chimney-corner he grew grievously irritable. A nothing vexed him;and suspected slights of his authority nearly threw him intofits. This was especially to be remarked if any oneattempted to impose upon, or domineer over, hisfavourite: he was painfully jealous lest a word should bespoken amiss to him; seeming to have got into his headthe notion that, because he liked Heathcliff, all hated, andlonged to do him an ill-turn. It was a disadvantage to thelad; for the kinder among us did not wish to fret themaster, so we humoured his partiality; and that humouringwas rich nourishment to the child’s pride and blacktempers. Still it became in a manner necessary; twice, orthrice, Hindley’s manifestation of scorn, while his fatherwas near, roused the old man to a fury: he seized his stickto strike him, and shook with rage that he could not do it. At last, our curate (we had a curate then who made theliving answer by teaching the little Lintons and Earnshaws,and farming his bit of land himself) advised that the young 63 of 540

Wuthering Heightsman should be sent to college; and Mr. Earnshaw agreed,though with a heavy spirit, for he said - ‘Hindley wasnought, and would never thrive as where he wandered.’ I hoped heartily we should have peace now. It hurt meto think the master should be made uncomfortable by hisown good deed. I fancied the discontent of age and diseasearose from his family disagreements; as he would have itthat it did: really, you know, sir, it was in his sinkingframe. We might have got on tolerably, notwithstanding,but for two people - Miss Cathy, and Joseph, the servant:you saw him, I daresay, up yonder. He was, and is yetmost likely, the wearisomest self-righteous Pharisee thatever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself andfling the curses to his neighbours. By his knack ofsermonising and pious discoursing, he contrived to make agreat impression on Mr. Earnshaw; and the more feeblethe master became, the more influence he gained. He wasrelentless in worrying him about his soul’s concerns, andabout ruling his children rigidly. He encouraged him toregard Hindley as a reprobate; and, night after night, heregularly grumbled out a long string of tales againstHeathcliff and Catherine: always minding to flatterEarnshaw’s weakness by heaping the heaviest blame on thelatter. 64 of 540

Wuthering Heights Certainly she had ways with her such as I never saw achild take up before; and she put all of us past our patiencefifty times and oftener in a day: from the hour she camedown-stairs till the hour she went to bed, we had not aminute’s security that she wouldn’t be in mischief. Herspirits were always at high-water mark, her tongue alwaysgoing - singing, laughing, and plaguing everybody whowould not do the same. A wild, wicked slip she was - butshe had the bonniest eye, the sweetest smile, and lightestfoot in the parish: and, after all, I believe she meant noharm; for when once she made you cry in good earnest, itseldom happened that she would not keep you company,and oblige you to be quiet that you might comfort her.She was much too fond of Heathcliff. The greatestpunishment we could invent for her was to keep herseparate from him: yet she got chided more than any of uson his account. In play, she liked exceedingly to act thelittle mistress; using her hands freely, and commanding hercompanions: she did so to me, but I would not bearslapping and ordering; and so I let her know. Now, Mr. Earnshaw did not understand jokes from hischildren: he had always been strict and grave with them;and Catherine, on her part, had no idea why her fathershould be crosser and less patient in his ailing condition 65 of 540

Wuthering Heightsthan he was in his prime. His peevish reproofs wakened inher a naughty delight to provoke him: she was never sohappy as when we were all scolding her at once, and shedefying us with her bold, saucy look, and her ready words;turning Joseph’s religious curses into ridicule, baiting me,and doing just what her father hated most - showing howher pretended insolence, which he thought real, had morepower over Heathcliff than his kindness: how the boywould do HER bidding in anything, and HIS only whenit suited his own inclination. After behaving as badly aspossible all day, she sometimes came fondling to make itup at night. ‘Nay, Cathy,’ the old man would say, ‘Icannot love thee, thou’rt worse than thy brother. Go, saythy prayers, child, and ask God’s pardon. I doubt thymother and I must rue that we ever reared thee!’ Thatmade her cry, at first; and then being repulsed continuallyhardened her, and she laughed if I told her to say she wassorry for her faults, and beg to be forgiven. But the hour came, at last, that ended Mr. Earnshaw’stroubles on earth. He died quietly in his chair oneOctober evening, seated by the fire-side. A high windblustered round the house, and roared in the chimney: itsounded wild and stormy, yet it was not cold, and wewere all together - I, a little removed from the hearth, 66 of 540

Wuthering Heightsbusy at my knitting, and Joseph reading his Bible near thetable (for the servants generally sat in the house then, aftertheir work was done). Miss Cathy had been sick, and thatmade her still; she leant against her father’s knee, andHeathcliff was lying on the floor with his head in her lap. Iremember the master, before he fell into a doze, strokingher bonny hair - it pleased him rarely to see her gentle -and saying, ‘Why canst thou not always be a good lass,Cathy?’ And she turned her face up to his, and laughed,and answered, ‘Why cannot you always be a good man,father?’ But as soon as she saw him vexed again, she kissedhis hand, and said she would sing him to sleep. She begansinging very low, till his fingers dropped from hers, and hishead sank on his breast. Then I told her to hush, and notstir, for fear she should wake him. We all kept as mute asmice a full half-hour, and should have done so longer,only Joseph, having finished his chapter, got up and saidthat he must rouse the master for prayers and bed. Hestepped forward, and called him by name, and touched hisshoulder; but he would not move: so he took the candleand looked at him. I thought there was something wrongas he set down the light; and seizing the children each byan arm, whispered them to ‘frame up- stairs, and make 67 of 540

Wuthering Heightslittle din - they might pray alone that evening - he hadsummut to do.’ ’I shall bid father good-night first,’ said Catherine,putting her arms round his neck, before we could hinderher. The poor thing discovered her loss directly - shescreamed out - ‘Oh, he’s dead, Heathcliff! he’s dead!’ Andthey both set up a heart-breaking cry. I joined my wail to theirs, loud and bitter; but Josephasked what we could be thinking of to roar in that wayover a saint in heaven. He told me to put on my cloak andrun to Gimmerton for the doctor and the parson. I couldnot guess the use that either would be of, then. However,I went, through wind and rain, and brought one, thedoctor, back with me; the other said he would come inthe morning. Leaving Joseph to explain matters, I ran tothe children’s room: their door was ajar, I saw they hadnever lain down, though it was past midnight; but theywere calmer, and did not need me to console them. Thelittle souls were comforting each other with betterthoughts than I could have hit on: no parson in the worldever pictured heaven so beautifully as they did, in theirinnocent talk; and, while I sobbed and listened, I couldnot help wishing we were all there safe together. 68 of 540

Wuthering Heights Chapter VI MR. HINDLEY came home to the funeral; and - athing that amazed us, and set the neighbours gossipingright and left - he brought a wife with him. What she was,and where she was born, he never informed us: probably,she had neither money nor name to recommend her, orhe would scarcely have kept the union from his father. She was not one that would have disturbed the housemuch on her own account. Every object she saw, themoment she crossed the threshold, appeared to delighther; and every circumstance that took place about her:except the preparing for the burial, and the presence of themourners. I thought she was half silly, from her behaviourwhile that went on: she ran into her chamber, and mademe come with her, though I should have been dressingthe children: and there she sat shivering and clasping herhands, and asking repeatedly - ‘Are they gone yet?’ Thenshe began describing with hysterical emotion the effect itproduced on her to see black; and started, and trembled,and, at last, fell a-weeping - and when I asked what wasthe matter, answered, she didn’t know; but she felt soafraid of dying! I imagined her as little likely to die as 69 of 540

Wuthering Heightsmyself. She was rather thin, but young, and fresh-complexioned, and her eyes sparkled as bright asdiamonds. I did remark, to be sure, that mounting thestairs made her breathe very quick; that the least suddennoise set her all in a quiver, and that she coughedtroublesomely sometimes: but I knew nothing of whatthese symptoms portended, and had no impulse tosympathise with her. We don’t in general take toforeigners here, Mr. Lockwood, unless they take to usfirst. Young Earnshaw was altered considerably in the threeyears of his absence. He had grown sparer, and lost hiscolour, and spoke and dressed quite differently; and, onthe very day of his return, he told Joseph and me we mustthenceforth quarter ourselves in the back-kitchen, andleave the house for him. Indeed, he would have carpetedand papered a small spare room for a parlour; but his wifeexpressed such pleasure at the white floor and hugeglowing fireplace, at the pewter dishes and delf-case, anddog-kennel, and the wide space there was to move aboutin where they usually sat, that he thought it unnecessary toher comfort, and so dropped the intention. She expressed pleasure, too, at finding a sister amongher new acquaintance; and she prattled to Catherine, and 70 of 540

Wuthering Heightskissed her, and ran about with her, and gave her quantitiesof presents, at the beginning. Her affection tired verysoon, however, and when she grew peevish, Hindleybecame tyrannical. A few words from her, evincing adislike to Heathcliff, were enough to rouse in him all hisold hatred of the boy. He drove him from their companyto the servants, deprived him of the instructions of thecurate, and insisted that he should labour out of doorsinstead; compelling him to do so as hard as any other ladon the farm. Heathcliff bore his degradation pretty well at first,because Cathy taught him what she learnt, and worked orplayed with him in the fields. They both promised fair togrow up as rude as savages; the young master beingentirely negligent how they behaved, and what they did,so they kept clear of him. He would not even have seenafter their going to church on Sundays, only Joseph andthe curate reprimanded his carelessness when theyabsented themselves; and that reminded him to orderHeathcliff a flogging, and Catherine a fast from dinner orsupper. But it was one of their chief amusements to runaway to the moors in the morning and remain there allday, and the after punishment grew a mere thing to laughat. The curate might set as many chapters as he pleased for 71 of 540

Wuthering HeightsCatherine to get by heart, and Joseph might thrashHeathcliff till his arm ached; they forgot everything theminute they were together again: at least the minute theyhad contrived some naughty plan of revenge; and many atime I’ve cried to myself to watch them growing morereckless daily, and I not daring to speak a syllable, for fearof losing the small power I still retained over theunfriended creatures. One Sunday evening, it chanced thatthey were banished from the sitting-room, for making anoise, or a light offence of the kind; and when I went tocall them to supper, I could discover them nowhere. Wesearched the house, above and below, and the yard andstables; they were invisible: and, at last, Hindley in apassion told us to bolt the doors, and swore nobody shouldlet them in that night. The household went to bed; and I,too, anxious to lie down, opened my lattice and put myhead out to hearken, though it rained: determined toadmit them in spite of the prohibition, should they return.In a while, I distinguished steps coming up the road, andthe light of a lantern glimmered through the gate. I threwa shawl over my head and ran to prevent them fromwaking Mr. Earnshaw by knocking. There was Heathcliff,by himself: it gave me a start to see him alone. 72 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’Where is Miss Catherine?’ I cried hurriedly. ‘Noaccident, I hope?’ ‘At Thrushcross Grange,’ he answered;‘and I would have been there too, but they had not themanners to ask me to stay.’ ‘Well, you will catch it!’ I said:‘you’ll never be content till you’re sent about yourbusiness. What in the world led you wandering toThrushcross Grange?’ ‘Let me get off my wet clothes, andI’ll tell you all about it, Nelly,’ he replied. I bid himbeware of rousing the master, and while he undressed andI waited to put out the candle, he continued - ‘Cathy andI escaped from the wash-house to have a ramble at liberty,and getting a glimpse of the Grange lights, we thought wewould just go and see whether the Lintons passed theirSunday evenings standing shivering in corners, while theirfather and mother sat eating and drinking, and singing andlaughing, and burning their eyes out before the fire. Doyou think they do? Or reading sermons, and beingcatechised by their manservant, and set to learn a columnof Scripture names, if they don’t answer properly?’‘Probably not,’ I responded. ‘They are good children, nodoubt, and don’t deserve the treatment you receive, foryour bad conduct.’ ‘Don’t cant, Nelly,’ he said: ‘nonsense!We ran from the top of the Heights to the park, withoutstopping - Catherine completely beaten in the race, 73 of 540

Wuthering Heightsbecause she was barefoot. You’ll have to seek for her shoesin the bog to-morrow. We crept through a broken hedge,groped our way up the path, and planted ourselves on aflower-plot under the drawing-room window. The lightcame from thence; they had not put up the shutters, andthe curtains were only half closed. Both of us were able tolook in by standing on the basement, and clinging to theledge, and we saw - ah! it was beautiful - a splendid placecarpeted with crimson, and crimson-covered chairs andtables, and a pure white ceiling bordered by gold, ashower of glass-drops hanging in silver chains from thecentre, and shimmering with little soft tapers. Old Mr. andMrs. Linton were not there; Edgar and his sisters had itentirely to themselves. Shouldn’t they have been happy?We should have thought ourselves in heaven! And now,guess what your good children were doing? Isabella - Ibelieve she is eleven, a year younger than Cathy - layscreaming at the farther end of the room, shrieking as ifwitches were running red-hot needles into her. Edgarstood on the hearth weeping silently, and in the middle ofthe table sat a little dog, shaking its paw and yelping;which, from their mutual accusations, we understood theyhad nearly pulled in two between them. The idiots! Thatwas their pleasure! to quarrel who should hold a heap of 74 of 540

Wuthering Heightswarm hair, and each begin to cry because both, afterstruggling to get it, refused to take it. We laughed outrightat the petted things; we did despise them! When wouldyou catch me wishing to have what Catherine wanted? orfind us by ourselves, seeking entertainment in yelling, andsobbing, and rolling on the ground, divided by the wholeroom? I’d not exchange, for a thousand lives, mycondition here, for Edgar Linton’s at Thrushcross Grange- not if I might have the privilege of flinging Joseph offthe highest gable, and painting the house- front withHindley’s blood!’ ’Hush, hush!’ I interrupted. ‘Still you have not told me,Heathcliff, how Catherine is left behind?’ ’I told you we laughed,’ he answered. ‘The Lintonsheard us, and with one accord they shot like arrows to thedoor; there was silence, and then a cry, ‘Oh, mamma,mamma! Oh, papa! Oh, mamma, come here. Oh, papa,oh!’ They really did howl out something in that way. Wemade frightful noises to terrify them still more, and thenwe dropped off the ledge, because somebody was drawingthe bars, and we felt we had better flee. I had Cathy bythe hand, and was urging her on, when all at once she felldown. ‘Run, Heathcliff, run!’ she whispered. ‘They havelet the bull-dog loose, and he holds me!’ The devil had 75 of 540

Wuthering Heightsseized her ankle, Nelly: I heard his abominable snorting.She did not yell out - no! she would have scorned to do it,if she had been spitted on the horns of a mad cow. I did,though: I vociferated curses enough to annihilate any fiendin Christendom; and I got a stone and thrust it betweenhis jaws, and tried with all my might to cram it down histhroat. A beast of a servant came up with a lantern, at last,shouting - ‘Keep fast, Skulker, keep fast!’ He changed hisnote, however, when he saw Skulker’s game. The dog wasthrottled off; his huge, purple tongue hanging half a footout of his mouth, and his pendent lips streaming withbloody slaver. The man took Cathy up; she was sick: notfrom fear, I’m certain, but from pain. He carried her in; Ifollowed, grumbling execrations and vengeance. ‘Whatprey, Robert?’ hallooed Linton from the entrance.‘Skulker has caught a little girl, sir,’ he replied; ‘and there’sa lad here,’ he added, making a clutch at me, ‘who looksan out-and- outer! Very like the robbers were for puttingthem through the window to open the doors to the gangafter all were asleep, that they might murder us at theirease. Hold your tongue, you foul- mouthed thief, you!you shall go to the gallows for this. Mr. Linton, sir, don’tlay by your gun.’ ‘No, no, Robert,’ said the old fool. ‘Therascals knew that yesterday was my rent-day: they thought 76 of 540

Wuthering Heightsto have me cleverly. Come in; I’ll furnish them areception. There, John, fasten the chain. Give Skulkersome water, Jenny. To beard a magistrate in hisstronghold, and on the Sabbath, too! Where will theirinsolence stop? Oh, my dear Mary, look here! Don’t beafraid, it is but a boy - yet the villain scowls so plainly inhis face; would it not be a kindness to the country to hanghim at once, before he shows his nature in acts as well asfeatures?’ He pulled me under the chandelier, and Mrs.Linton placed her spectacles on her nose and raised herhands in horror. The cowardly children crept nearer also,Isabella lisping - ‘Frightful thing! Put him in the cellar,papa. He’s exactly like the son of the fortune-teller thatstole my tame pheasant. Isn’t he, Edgar?’ ’While they examined me, Cathy came round; sheheard the last speech, and laughed. Edgar Linton, after aninquisitive stare, collected sufficient wit to recognise her.They see us at church, you know, though we seldommeet them elsewhere. ‘That’s Miss Earnshaw?’ hewhispered to his mother, ‘and look how Skulker has bittenher - how her foot bleeds!’ ’’Miss Earnshaw? Nonsense!’ cried the dame; ‘MissEarnshaw scouring the country with a gipsy! And yet, my 77 of 540

Wuthering Heightsdear, the child is in mourning - surely it is - and she maybe lamed for life!’ ’’What culpable carelessness in her brother!’ exclaimedMr. Linton, turning from me to Catherine. ‘I’veunderstood from Shielders‘‘ (that was the curate, sir) ‘\"thathe lets her grow up in absolute heathenism. But who isthis? Where did she pick up this companion? Oho! Ideclare he is that strange acquisition my late neighbourmade, in his journey to Liverpool - a little Lascar, or anAmerican or Spanish castaway.’ ’’A wicked boy, at all events,’ remarked the old lady,‘and quite unfit for a decent house! Did you notice hislanguage, Linton? I’m shocked that my children shouldhave heard it.’ ’I recommenced cursing - don’t be angry, Nelly - andso Robert was ordered to take me off. I refused to gowithout Cathy; he dragged me into the garden, pushedthe lantern into my hand, assured me that Mr. Earnshawshould be informed of my behaviour, and, bidding memarch directly, secured the door again. The curtains werestill looped up at one corner, and I resumed my station asspy; because, if Catherine had wished to return, I intendedshattering their great glass panes to a million of fragments,unless they let her out. She sat on the sofa quietly. Mrs. 78 of 540

Wuthering HeightsLinton took off the grey cloak of the dairy-maid which wehad borrowed for our excursion, shaking her head andexpostulating with her, I suppose: she was a young lady,and they made a distinction between her treatment andmine. Then the woman-servant brought a basin of warmwater, and washed her feet; and Mr. Linton mixed atumbler of negus, and Isabella emptied a plateful of cakesinto her lap, and Edgar stood gaping at a distance.Afterwards, they dried and combed her beautiful hair, andgave her a pair of enormous slippers, and wheeled her tothe fire; and I left her, as merry as she could be, dividingher food between the little dog and Skulker, whose noseshe pinched as he ate; and kindling a spark of spirit in thevacant blue eyes of the Lintons - a dim reflection from herown enchanting face. I saw they were full of stupidadmiration; she is so immeasurably superior to them - toeverybody on earth, is she not, Nelly?’ ’There will more come of this business than youreckon on,’ I answered, covering him up andextinguishing the light. ‘You are incurable, Heathcliff; andMr. Hindley will have to proceed to extremities, see if hewon’t.’ My words came truer than I desired. The lucklessadventure made Earnshaw furious. And then Mr. Linton,to mend matters, paid us a visit himself on the morrow, 79 of 540

Wuthering Heightsand read the young master such a lecture on the road heguided his family, that he was stirred to look about him, inearnest. Heathcliff received no flogging, but he was toldthat the first word he spoke to Miss Catherine shouldensure a dismissal; and Mrs. Earnshaw undertook to keepher sister-in-law in due restraint when she returned home;employing art, not force: with force she would have foundit impossible. 80 of 540

Wuthering Heights Chapter VII CATHY stayed at Thrushcross Grange five weeks: tillChristmas. By that time her ankle was thoroughly cured,and her manners much improved. The mistress visited heroften in the interval, and commenced her plan of reformby trying to raise her self-respect with fine clothes andflattery, which she took readily; so that, instead of a wild,hatless little savage jumping into the house, and rushing tosqueeze us all breathless, there ‘lighted from a handsomeblack pony a very dignified person, with brown ringletsfalling from the cover of a feathered beaver, and a longcloth habit, which she was obliged to hold up with bothhands that she might sail in. Hindley lifted her from herhorse, exclaiming delightedly, ‘Why, Cathy, you are quitea beauty! I should scarcely have known you: you look likea lady now. Isabella Linton is not to be compared withher, is she, Frances?’ ‘Isabella has not her naturaladvantages,’ replied his wife: ‘but she must mind and notgrow wild again here. Ellen, help Miss Catherine off withher things - Stay, dear, you will disarrange your curls - letme untie your hat.’ 81 of 540

Wuthering Heights I removed the habit, and there shone forth beneath agrand plaid silk frock, white trousers, and burnished shoes;and, while her eyes sparkled joyfully when the dogs camebounding up to welcome her, she dared hardly touchthem lest they should fawn upon her splendid garments.She kissed me gently: I was all flour making the Christmascake, and it would not have done to give me a hug; andthen she looked round for Heathcliff. Mr. and Mrs.Earnshaw watched anxiously their meeting; thinking itwould enable them to judge, in some measure, whatgrounds they had for hoping to succeed in separating thetwo friends. Heathcliff was hard to discover, at first. If he werecareless, and uncared for, before Catherine’s absence, hehad been ten times more so since. Nobody but I even didhim the kindness to call him a dirty boy, and bid himwash himself, once a week; and children of his age seldomhave a natural pleasure in soap and water. Therefore, notto mention his clothes, which had seen three months’service in mire and dust, and his thick uncombed hair, thesurface of his face and hands was dismally beclouded. Hemight well skulk behind the settle, on beholding such abright, graceful damsel enter the house, instead of a rough-headed counterpart of himself, as he expected. ‘Is 82 of 540

Wuthering HeightsHeathcliff not here?’ she demanded, pulling off her gloves,and displaying fingers wonderfully whitened with doingnothing and staying indoors. ’Heathcliff, you may come forward,’ cried Mr.Hindley, enjoying his discomfiture, and gratified to seewhat a forbidding young blackguard he would becompelled to present himself. ‘You may come and wishMiss Catherine welcome, like the other servants.’ Cathy, catching a glimpse of her friend in hisconcealment, flew to embrace him; she bestowed seven oreight kisses on his cheek within the second, and thenstopped, and drawing back, burst into a laugh, exclaiming,‘Why, how very black and cross you look! and how - howfunny and grim! But that’s because I’m used to Edgar andIsabella Linton. Well, Heathcliff, have you forgotten me?’ She had some reason to put the question, for shame andpride threw double gloom over his countenance, and kepthim immovable. ’Shake hands, Heathcliff,’ said Mr. Earnshaw,condescendingly; ‘once in a way, that is permitted.’ ’I shall not,’ replied the boy, finding his tongue at last;‘I shall not stand to be laughed at. I shall not bear it!’ Andhe would have broken from the circle, but Miss Cathyseized him again. 83 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’I did not mean to laugh at you,’ she said; ‘I could nothinder myself: Heathcliff, shake hands at least! What areyou sulky for? It was only that you looked odd. If youwash your face and brush your hair, it will be all right: butyou are so dirty!’ She gazed concernedly at the dusky fingers she held inher own, and also at her dress; which she feared hadgained no embellishment from its contact with his. ’You needn’t have touched me!’ he answered,following her eye and snatching away his hand. ‘I shall beas dirty as I please: and I like to be dirty, and I will bedirty.’ With that he dashed headforemost out of the room,amid the merriment of the master and mistress, and to theserious disturbance of Catherine; who could notcomprehend how her remarks should have produced suchan exhibition of bad temper. After playing lady’s-maid to the new-comer, andputting my cakes in the oven, and making the house andkitchen cheerful with great fires, befitting Christmas-eve, Iprepared to sit down and amuse myself by singing carols,all alone; regardless of Joseph’s affirmations that heconsidered the merry tunes I chose as next door to songs.He had retired to private prayer in his chamber, and Mr. 84 of 540

Wuthering Heightsand Mrs. Earnshaw were engaging Missy’s attention bysundry gay trifles bought for her to present to the littleLintons, as an acknowledgment of their kindness. Theyhad invited them to spend the morrow at WutheringHeights, and the invitation had been accepted, on onecondition: Mrs. Linton begged that her darlings might bekept carefully apart from that ‘naughty swearing boy.’ Under these circumstances I remained solitary. I smeltthe rich scent of the heating spices; and admired theshining kitchen utensils, the polished clock, decked inholly, the silver mugs ranged on a tray ready to be filledwith mulled ale for supper; and above all, the specklesspurity of my particular care - the scoured and well-sweptfloor. I gave due inward applause to every object, and thenI remembered how old Earnshaw used to come in whenall was tidied, and call me a cant lass, and slip a shillinginto my hand as a Christmas-box; and from that I went onto think of his fondness for Heathcliff, and his dread lesthe should suffer neglect after death had removed him: andthat naturally led me to consider the poor lad’s situationnow, and from singing I changed my mind to crying. Itstruck me soon, however, there would be more sense inendeavouring to repair some of his wrongs than sheddingtears over them: I got up and walked into the court to 85 of 540

Wuthering Heightsseek him. He was not far; I found him smoothing theglossy coat of the new pony in the stable, and feeding theother beasts, according to custom. ’Make haste, Heathcliff!’ I said, ‘the kitchen is socomfortable; and Joseph is up-stairs: make haste, and letme dress you smart before Miss Cathy comes out, andthen you can sit together, with the whole hearth toyourselves, and have a long chatter till bedtime.’ He proceeded with his task, and never turned his headtowards me. ’Come - are you coming?’ I continued. ‘There’s a littlecake for each of you, nearly enough; and you’ll need half-an-hour’s donning.’ I waited five minutes, but getting no answer left him.Catherine supped with her brother and sister-in-law:Joseph and I joined at an unsociable meal, seasoned withreproofs on one side and sauciness on the other. His cakeand cheese remained on the table all night for the fairies.He managed to continue work till nine o’clock, and thenmarched dumb and dour to his chamber. Cathy sat up late,having a world of things to order for the reception of hernew friends: she came into the kitchen once to speak toher old one; but he was gone, and she only stayed to askwhat was the matter with him, and then went back. In the 86 of 540

Wuthering Heightsmorning he rose early; and, as it was a holiday, carried hisill-humour on to the moors; not re-appearing till thefamily were departed for church. Fasting and reflectionseemed to have brought him to a better spirit. He hungabout me for a while, and having screwed up his courage,exclaimed abruptly - ‘Nelly, make me decent, I’m goingto be good.’ ’High time, Heathcliff,’ I said; ‘you HAVE grievedCatherine: she’s sorry she ever came home, I daresay! Itlooks as if you envied her, because she is more thought ofthan you.’ The notion of ENVYING Catherine wasincomprehensible to him, but the notion of grieving herhe understood clearly enough. ’Did she say she was grieved?’ he inquired, lookingvery serious. ’She cried when I told her you were off again thismorning.’ ’Well, I cried last night,’ he returned, ‘and I had morereason to cry than she.’ ’Yes: you had the reason of going to bed with a proudheart and an empty stomach,’ said I. ‘Proud people breedsad sorrows for themselves. But, if you be ashamed of yourtouchiness, you must ask pardon, mind, when she comes 87 of 540

Wuthering Heightsin. You must go up and offer to kiss her, and say - youknow best what to say; only do it heartily, and not as ifyou thought her converted into a stranger by her granddress. And now, though I have dinner to get ready, I’llsteal time to arrange you so that Edgar Linton shall lookquite a doll beside you: and that he does. You areyounger, and yet, I’ll be bound, you are taller and twice asbroad across the shoulders; you could knock him down ina twinkling; don’t you feel that you could?’ Heathcliff’s face brightened a moment; then it wasovercast afresh, and he sighed. ’But, Nelly, if I knocked him down twenty times, thatwouldn’t make him less handsome or me more so. I wish Ihad light hair and a fair skin, and was dressed and behavedas well, and had a chance of being as rich as he will be!’ ’And cried for mamma at every turn,’ I added, ‘andtrembled if a country lad heaved his fist against you, andsat at home all day for a shower of rain. Oh, Heathcliff,you are showing a poor spirit! Come to the glass, and I’lllet you see what you should wish. Do you mark those twolines between your eyes; and those thick brows, that,instead of rising arched, sink in the middle; and thatcouple of black fiends, so deeply buried, who never opentheir windows boldly, but lurk glinting under them, like 88 of 540

Wuthering Heightsdevil’s spies? Wish and learn to smooth away the surlywrinkles, to raise your lids frankly, and change the fiendsto confident, innocent angels, suspecting and doubtingnothing, and always seeing friends where they are not sureof foes. Don’t get the expression of a vicious cur thatappears to know the kicks it gets are its desert, and yethates all the world, as well as the kicker, for what itsuffers.’ ’In other words, I must wish for Edgar Linton’s greatblue eyes and even forehead,’ he replied. ‘I do - and thatwon’t help me to them.’ ’A good heart will help you to a bonny face, my lad,’ Icontinued, ‘if you were a regular black; and a bad one willturn the bonniest into something worse than ugly. Andnow that we’ve done washing, and combing, and sulking -tell me whether you don’t think yourself rather handsome?I’ll tell you, I do. You’re fit for a prince in disguise. Whoknows but your father was Emperor of China, and yourmother an Indian queen, each of them able to buy up,with one week’s income, Wuthering Heights andThrushcross Grange together? And you were kidnappedby wicked sailors and brought to England. Were I in yourplace, I would frame high notions of my birth; and the 89 of 540

Wuthering Heightsthoughts of what I was should give me courage anddignity to support the oppressions of a little farmer!’ So I chattered on; and Heathcliff gradually lost hisfrown and began to look quite pleasant, when all at onceour conversation was interrupted by a rumbling soundmoving up the road and entering the court. He ran to thewindow and I to the door, just in time to behold the twoLintons descend from the family carriage, smothered incloaks and furs, and the Earnshaws dismount from theirhorses: they often rode to church in winter. Catherinetook a hand of each of the children, and brought theminto the house and set them before the fire, which quicklyput colour into their white faces. I urged my companion to hasten now and show hisamiable humour, and he willingly obeyed; but ill luckwould have it that, as he opened the door leading fromthe kitchen on one side, Hindley opened it on the other.They met, and the master, irritated at seeing him clean andcheerful, or, perhaps, eager to keep his promise to Mrs.Linton, shoved him back with a sudden thrust, and angrilybade Joseph ‘keep the fellow out of the room - send himinto the garret till dinner is over. He’ll be cramming hisfingers in the tarts and stealing the fruit, if left alone withthem a minute.’ 90 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’Nay, sir,’ I could not avoid answering, ‘he’ll touchnothing, not he: and I suppose he must have his share ofthe dainties as well as we.’ ’He shall have his share of my hand, if I catch himdownstairs till dark,’ cried Hindley. ‘Begone, youvagabond! What! you are attempting the coxcomb, areyou? Wait till I get hold of those elegant locks - see if Iwon’t pull them a bit longer!’ ’They are long enough already,’ observed MasterLinton, peeping from the doorway; ‘I wonder they don’tmake his head ache. It’s like a colt’s mane over his eyes!’ He ventured this remark without any intention toinsult; but Heathcliff’s violent nature was not prepared toendure the appearance of impertinence from one whomhe seemed to hate, even then, as a rival. He seized atureen of hot apple sauce (the first thing that came underhis gripe) and dashed it full against the speaker’s face andneck; who instantly commenced a lament that broughtIsabella and Catherine hurrying to the place. Mr.Earnshaw snatched up the culprit directly and conveyedhim to his chamber; where, doubtless, he administered arough remedy to cool the fit of passion, for he appearedred and breathless. I got the dishcloth, and rather spitefullyscrubbed Edgar’s nose and mouth, affirming it served him 91 of 540

Wuthering Heightsright for meddling. His sister began weeping to go home,and Cathy stood by confounded, blushing for all. ’You should not have spoken to him!’ she expostulatedwith Master Linton. ‘He was in a bad temper, and nowyou’ve spoilt your visit; and he’ll be flogged: I hate him tobe flogged! I can’t eat my dinner. Why did you speak tohim, Edgar?’ ’I didn’t,’ sobbed the youth, escaping from my hands,and finishing the remainder of the purification with hiscambric pocket- handkerchief. ‘I promised mamma that Iwouldn’t say one word to him, and I didn’t.’ ’Well, don’t cry,’ replied Catherine, contemptuously;‘you’re not killed. Don’t make more mischief; my brotheris coming: be quiet! Hush, Isabella! Has anybody hurtyou?’ ’There, there, children - to your seats!’ cried Hindley,bustling in. ‘That brute of a lad has warmed me nicely.Next time, Master Edgar, take the law into your own fists- it will give you an appetite!’ The little party recovered its equanimity at sight of thefragrant feast. They were hungry after their ride, and easilyconsoled, since no real harm had befallen them. Mr.Earnshaw carved bountiful platefuls, and the mistress madethem merry with lively talk. I waited behind her chair, 92 of 540

Wuthering Heightsand was pained to behold Catherine, with dry eyes and anindifferent air, commence cutting up the wing of a goosebefore her. ‘An unfeeling child,’ I thought to myself; ‘howlightly she dismisses her old playmate’s troubles. I couldnot have imagined her to be so selfish.’ She lifted amouthful to her lips: then she set it down again: hercheeks flushed, and the tears gushed over them. Sheslipped her fork to the floor, and hastily dived under thecloth to conceal her emotion. I did not call her unfeelinglong; for I perceived she was in purgatory throughout theday, and wearying to find an opportunity of getting byherself, or paying a visit to Heathcliff, who had beenlocked up by the master: as I discovered, on endeavouringto introduce to him a private mess of victuals. In the evening we had a dance. Cathy begged that hemight be liberated then, as Isabella Linton had no partner:her entreaties were vain, and I was appointed to supply thedeficiency. We got rid of all gloom in the excitement ofthe exercise, and our pleasure was increased by the arrivalof the Gimmerton band, mustering fifteen strong: atrumpet, a trombone, clarionets, bassoons, French horns,and a bass viol, besides singers. They go the rounds of allthe respectable houses, and receive contributions everyChristmas, and we esteemed it a first-rate treat to hear 93 of 540

Wuthering Heightsthem. After the usual carols had been sung, we set them tosongs and glees. Mrs. Earnshaw loved the music, and sothey gave us plenty. Catherine loved it too: but she said it sounded sweetestat the top of the steps, and she went up in the dark: Ifollowed. They shut the house door below, never notingour absence, it was so full of people. She made no stay atthe stairs’-head, but mounted farther, to the garret whereHeathcliff was confined, and called him. He stubbornlydeclined answering for a while: she persevered, and finallypersuaded him to hold communion with her through theboards. I let the poor things converse unmolested, till Isupposed the songs were going to cease, and the singers toget some refreshment: then I clambered up the ladder towarn her. Instead of finding her outside, I heard her voicewithin. The little monkey had crept by the skylight of onegarret, along the roof, into the skylight of the other, and itwas with the utmost difficulty I could coax her out again.When she did come, Heathcliff came with her, and sheinsisted that I should take him into the kitchen, as myfellow-servant had gone to a neighbour’s, to be removedfrom the sound of our ‘devil’s psalmody,’ as it pleased himto call it. I told them I intended by no means to encouragetheir tricks: but as the prisoner had never broken his fast 94 of 540

Wuthering Heightssince yesterday’s dinner, I would wink at his cheating Mr.Hindley that once. He went down: I set him a stool bythe fire, and offered him a quantity of good things: but hewas sick and could eat little, and my attempts to entertainhim were thrown away. He leant his two elbows on hisknees, and his chin on his hands and remained rapt indumb meditation. On my inquiring the subject of histhoughts, he answered gravely - ‘I’m trying to settle how Ishall pay Hindley back. I don’t care how long I wait, if Ican only do it at last. I hope he will not die before I do!’ ’For shame, Heathcliff!’ said I. ‘It is for God to punishwicked people; we should learn to forgive.’ ’No, God won’t have the satisfaction that I shall,’ hereturned. ‘I only wish I knew the best way! Let me alone,and I’ll plan it out: while I’m thinking of that I don’t feelpain.’ ’But, Mr. Lockwood, I forget these tales cannot divertyou. I’m annoyed how I should dream of chattering on atsuch a rate; and your gruel cold, and you nodding for bed!I could have told Heathcliff’s history, all that you needhear, in half a dozen words.’ Thus interrupting herself, the housekeeper rose, andproceeded to lay aside her sewing; but I felt incapable ofmoving from the hearth, and I was very far from nodding. 95 of 540

Wuthering Heights‘Sit still, Mrs. Dean,’ I cried; ‘do sit still another half-hour.You’ve done just right to tell the story leisurely. That isthe method I like; and you must finish it in the same style.I am interested in every character you have mentioned,more or less.’ ’The clock is on the stroke of eleven, sir.’ ’No matter - I’m not accustomed to go to bed in thelong hours. One or two is early enough for a person wholies till ten.’ ’You shouldn’t lie till ten. There’s the very prime ofthe morning gone long before that time. A person whohas not done one-half his day’s work by ten o’clock, runsa chance of leaving the other half undone.’ ’Nevertheless, Mrs. Dean, resume your chair; becauseto-morrow I intend lengthening the night till afternoon. Iprognosticate for myself an obstinate cold, at least.’ ’I hope not, sir. Well, you must allow me to leap oversome three years; during that space Mrs. Earnshaw - ‘ ’No, no, I’ll allow nothing of the sort! Are youacquainted with the mood of mind in which, if you wereseated alone, and the cat licking its kitten on the rugbefore you, you would watch the operation so intentlythat puss’s neglect of one ear would put you seriously outof temper?’ 96 of 540

Wuthering Heights ’A terribly lazy mood, I should say.’ ’On the contrary, a tiresomely active one. It is mine, atpresent; and, therefore, continue minutely. I perceive thatpeople in these regions acquire over people in towns thevalue that a spider in a dungeon does over a spider in acottage, to their various occupants; and yet the deepenedattraction is not entirely owing to the situation of thelooker-on. They DO live more in earnest, more inthemselves, and less in surface, change, and frivolousexternal things. I could fancy a love for life here almostpossible; and I was a fixed unbeliever in any love of ayear’s standing. One state resembles setting a hungry mandown to a single dish, on which he may concentrate hisentire appetite and do it justice; the other, introducinghim to a table laid out by French cooks: he can perhapsextract as much enjoyment from the whole; but each partis a mere atom in his regard and remembrance.’ ’Oh! here we are the same as anywhere else, when youget to know us,’ observed Mrs. Dean, somewhat puzzledat my speech. ’Excuse me,’ I responded; ‘you, my good friend, are astriking evidence against that assertion. Excepting a fewprovincialisms of slight consequence, you have no marksof the manners which I am habituated to consider as 97 of 540

Wuthering Heightspeculiar to your class. I am sure you have thought a greatdeal more than the generality of servants think. You havebeen compelled to cultivate your reflective faculties forwant of occasions for frittering your life away in sillytrifles.’ Mrs. Dean laughed. ’I certainly esteem myself a steady, reasonable kind ofbody,’ she said; ‘not exactly from living among the hillsand seeing one set of faces, and one series of actions, fromyear’s end to year’s end; but I have undergone sharpdiscipline, which has taught me wisdom; and then, I haveread more than you would fancy, Mr. Lockwood. Youcould not open a book in this library that I have notlooked into, and got something out of also: unless it bethat range of Greek and Latin, and that of French; andthose I know one from another: it is as much as you canexpect of a poor man’s daughter. However, if I am tofollow my story in true gossip’s fashion, I had better goon; and instead of leaping three years, I will be content topass to the next summer - the summer of 1778, that isnearly twenty-three years ago.’ 98 of 540

Wuthering Heights Chapter VIII ON the morning of a fine June day my first bonny littlenursling, and the last of the ancient Earnshaw stock, wasborn. We were busy with the hay in a far-away field,when the girl that usually brought our breakfasts camerunning an hour too soon across the meadow and up thelane, calling me as she ran. ’Oh, such a grand bairn!’ she panted out. ‘The finest ladthat ever breathed! But the doctor says missis must go: hesays she’s been in a consumption these many months. Iheard him tell Mr. Hindley: and now she has nothing tokeep her, and she’ll be dead before winter. You mustcome home directly. You’re to nurse it, Nelly: to feed itwith sugar and milk, and take care of it day and night. Iwish I were you, because it will be all yours when there isno missis!’ ’But is she very ill?’ I asked, flinging down my rake andtying my bonnet. ’I guess she is; yet she looks bravely,’ replied the girl,‘and she talks as if she thought of living to see it grow aman. She’s out of her head for joy, it’s such a beauty! If Iwere her I’m certain I should not die: I should get better 99 of 540

Wuthering Heightsat the bare sight of it, in spite of Kenneth. I was fairly madat him. Dame Archer brought the cherub down to master,in the house, and his face just began to light up, when theold croaker steps forward, and says he - ‘Earnshaw, it’s ablessing your wife has been spared to leave you this son.When she came, I felt convinced we shouldn’t keep herlong; and now, I must tell you, the winter will probablyfinish her. Don’t take on, and fret about it too much: itcan’t be helped. And besides, you should have knownbetter than to choose such a rush of a lass!‘‘ ’And what did the master answer?’ I inquired. ’I think he swore: but I didn’t mind him, I wasstraining to see the bairn,’ and she began again to describeit rapturously. I, as zealous as herself, hurried eagerly hometo admire, on my part; though I was very sad for Hindley’ssake. He had room in his heart only for two idols - hiswife and himself: he doted on both, and adored one, and Icouldn’t conceive how he would bear the loss. When we got to Wuthering Heights, there he stood atthe front door; and, as I passed in, I asked, ‘how was thebaby?’ ’Nearly ready to run about, Nell!’ he replied, puttingon a cheerful smile. 100 of 540